Alkoxylated polyethyeneimine with a low melting point

Abstract

The present invention relates to water-soluble alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines having an inner block of polyethylene oxide comprising 5 to 18 polyethylene oxide units, a middle block of polyalkylene oxide comprising 1 to 5 polyalkylene oxide units and an outer block of polyethylene oxide comprising 2 to 14 polyethylene oxide units. The middle block is formed from polypropylene oxide units, polybutylene oxide units and/or polypentene oxide units. In addition, the present invention relates to water-soluble alkoxylated polyamines.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A water-soluble alkoxylated polyalkylenimine or polyamine of the general formula I 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which the variables are each defined as follows:
 R represents identical or different, linear or branched C 2 -C 12  alkylene radicals or an etheralkyl unit of the following formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which the variables are each defined as follows:
 R 10 , R 11 , R 12  represent identical or different, linear or branched C 2 -C 6 -alkylene radicals and d is an integer having a value in the range of from 0 to 50; 
 B represents a continuation of the alkoxylated polyalkylenimine by branching 
 E is an alkylenoxy unit of the formula II 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which the variables are each defined as follows:
 R 1  represents 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene and/or 1,2-pentene; 
 R 2  represents hydrogen and/or C 1 -C 22 -alkyl and/or C 7 -C 22  aralkyl; 
 y and z are each from 0 to 150, 
 m is an integer having a value in the range of from 5 to 18; 
 n is an integer having a value in the range of from 1 to 5; 
 p is an integer having a value in the range of from 2 to 14. 
 
     
     
       2. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein R represents identical or different, linear or branched C 2 -C 12 -alkylene radicals. 
     
     
       3. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein R is ethylene or hexamethylene. 
     
     
       4. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sum of y+z is at least 1 or wherein y and z are 0. 
     
     
       5. The polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein y and z are both 0, d is from 1 to 5, and R 10 , R 11 , R 12  are independently selected from linear or branched C 3  to C 4  alkylene radicals. 
     
     
       6. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein m and p have a value in the range of from 5 to 14. 
     
     
       7. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein up to 100% of the nitrogen atoms present in the polyalkylenimine or polyamine are quaternized. 
     
     
       8. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein the degree of quaternization of the nitrogen atoms present in the polyalkylenimine or polyamine lies in the range of from 10% to 95%. 
     
     
       9. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 7 , wherein the quaternized polyalkylenimine or polyamine is sulfatized or transsulfatized. 
     
     
       10. A cosmetic formulation, a crude oil emulsion breaker, a pigment dispersion for ink jet inks, a formulation for electro plating, or a cementitious composition which comprises the polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. A process for preparing the alkoxylated polyalkyleneimine or the polyamine according to  claim 1 , which comprises first reacting a polyalkyleneimine or a polyamine with ethylene oxide than with propylene oxide or butylene oxide and then with ethylene oxide. 
     
     
       12. The process according to  claim 11  in which per mol of N—H functionalities in the polyalkyleneimine or polyamine the polyalkyleneimine or polyamine is reacted with 5 to 18 moles ethylene oxide then with 1 to 5 moles propylenoxide or butylene oxide and then with 2 to 14 moles ethylene oxide. 
     
     
       13. The process according to  claim 11  in which the polyalkyleneimine is a polyethyleneimine or the polyamine is a hexamethylenediamine. 
     
     
       14. The process according to  claim 11  in which the alkoxylated polyalkyleneimine or the alkoxylated polyamine is additionally quaternized and/or sulfatized. 
     
     
       15. The polyalkylenimine or polyamine according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyalkyleneimine or polyamine has a backbone molecular weight Mw in the range of from 50 to 10 000 g/mol.